Amateur-built 10-80 and amateur-built BEAVER RX-550 accident near Chandler, Arizona, August 21, 1993
On August 21, 1993 at about 1:50 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built 10-80 (N51677) and amateur-built BEAVER RX-550 (N38RJ), were involved in the same accident near Chandler, Arizona (Stellar Airpark airport). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the noncertificated pilot's failure to follow the prescribed vfr procedures and poor visual lookout. The other aircraft pilot's restricted visual lookout was a factor in this accident.
THE NONCERTIFICATED PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PRESCRIBED VFR PROCEDURES AND POOR VISUAL LOOKOUT. THE OTHER AIRCRAFT PILOT'S RESTRICTED VISUAL LOOKOUT WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1993 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona · Stellar Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built 10-80
- Registration
- N51677 · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built BEAVER RX-550 BEAVER R
- Registration
- N38RJ · registry record · serial SB-2171
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built 10-80 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AMATEUR BUILT EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE PILOT ANNOUNCED HIS POSITION AS HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. WHEN ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE PILOT OBSERVED A REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT AIRPLANE TAXIING TOWARD THE RUNWAY. AS THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE TURNED ONTO THE FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT OBSERVED THE ULTRALIGHT STOP AT THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. THE EXPERIMENTAL PILOT WAS REQUIRED TO FLY THE FINAL APPROACH AT A SLOW AIRPEED WITH A HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK AND A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE WIRES THAT CROSSED THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE. WHEN THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE WAS NEARING THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD, THE NONCERTIFICATED PILOT FLYING THE REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT AIRPLANE ENTERED ONTO THE RUNWAY AND WAS STRUCK BY THE LANDING AIRPLANE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built BEAVER RX-550 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AMATEUR BUILT EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE PILOT ANNOUNCED HIS POSITION AS HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. WHEN ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE PILOT OBSERVED A REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT AIRPLANE TAXIING TOWARD THE RUNWAY. AS THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE TURNED ONTO THE FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT OBSERVED THE ULTRALIGHT STOP AT THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. THE EXPERIMENTAL PILOT WAS REQUIRED TO FLY THE FINAL APPROACH AT A SLOW AIRPEED WITH A HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK AND A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE WIRES THAT CROSSED THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE. WHEN THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE WAS NEARING THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD, THE NONCERTIFICATED PILOT FLYING THE REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT AIRPLANE ENTERED ONTO THE RUNWAY AND WAS STRUCK BY THE LANDING AIRPLANE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the amateur-built 10-80 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 23, 1993; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,005 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built BEAVER RX-550 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,005 ft by 55 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.